Consumer Unit Installation Southend

(And surrounding areas)

Welcome to TM Hughes & Son Electrical Services Ltd. We specialise in Consumer Unit Installation, serving Southend and the surrounding areas.

At TM Hughes Electrical, we pride ourselves on providing high-quality services at fair prices.

Our team of NICEIC-registered electricians have years of experience and are fully insured.

We offer free, no-obligation surveys and quotes undertaken by one of our Electricians. Feel free to book an appointment at a convenient time. A survey allows us to determine the best type of Consumer Unit for your home and write an accurate quote for materials and labour.

Consumer Unit Upgrades

We regularly upgrade Consumer Units in homes in Southend. We also undertake brand-new installations in newly built properties and extensions.

You may need to upgrade your current Consumer unit for several reasons.

For example, suppose you have an old, outdated fusebox with wire fuses. In that case, it is highly recommended to replace it immediately to improve your home’s safety and bring your electrical system up to the latest regulations.

It’s surprising that many homes in the area still run their electrical system off a traditional fuse board—old-style fuses, which cut electricity by melting wire. Slower to cut power and not as safe as the latest RCD fuses. In addition, old fuses and fuse boxes are a potential fire risk. Melting wire in old fuses can and does flame.

Additionally, suppose your Consumer Unit is damaged, corroded, constructed from plastic or does not comply with the current regulations and electrical standards. In that case, it’s recommended to install a new one to ensure the complete safety of your property.

Modern Consumer Units are fitted with the latest circuit breakers that provide enhanced levels of safety—equipped with RCDs (Residual Current Devices), MCBs (Miniature Circuit Breakers), and RCBOs (Residual Current Device With Overcurrent).

All the above fuses cut power instantly in the event of a fault protecting people from electric shocks (and even death), overloading of circuits and electrical fires.

The latest consumer units are constructed from non-combustible metal, so the flames are contained in the unlikely event of an electrical fire and have less chance of spreading.

NICEIC Registered

We are NICEIC-registered domestic installers.

NICEIC is the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting.
This organisation provides electrical contracting inspection and certification services in the UK.
Electrical contractors and their work are certified by the NICEIC. Ensuring high standards of electrical workmanship and safety.

When you use TM Hughes Electrical services to install your new consumer unit (or any other electrical work for that matter), you can rest assured the work’s undertaken by a certified professional.

Consumer Unit FAQs

What Does A Consumer Unit Do?

A consumer unit is essential to domestic electrical systems to protect against overcurrent and electrocution.

The unit contains fuses known as RCDs, MCBs or RCBOs circuit breakers that control electricity flow to home circuits. It is a central point for shutting off power and instantly cuts power to a circuit when a fault occurs in the electrical system.

Is A Consumer Unit The Same As A Fusebox?

A consumer unit and a fuse box are often used interchangeably but are essentially the same.

A ‘Consumer Unit’ is the modern term for the main distribution device serving electrical circuits in the home.

On the other hand, a ‘Fuse Box’ is an older term that has stuck and is still used by many today. Traditionally fuse boxes were mounted on wood and housed traditional-style wire fuses.

In summary, both are the same thing and have the same function, but the consumer unit is the modern term (and the correct term), while the fuse box is the older term.

Can An Electrician Move A Consumer Unit?

Yes, an electrician can move a consumer unit. However, the electrician must ensure that the new location for the consumer unit is safe, accessible, and compliant with the current regulations.

Additionally, it’s important to mention that if the consumer unit is being moved to a different location, it often means the existing wiring of the home will have to be modified, which is complex and costly in some situations.

Generally, moving Consumer Units is only undertaken when absolutely necessary.

How Long Does A New consumer Unit Installation Take?

The time it takes to install a consumer unit varies. However, a straightforward replacement of an existing consumer unit with a new one of the same size generally only takes a few hours.

However, suppose the new consumer unit involves the installation of new circuits or is being moved to a new location. In that case, it will take longer. It depends on the work involved. Our electricians will provide an accurate estimate during the free survey.